Page 38 of Unbroken

“I…”

“Shhh.” He dipped his head and kissed her into silence. “I just wanted you to know. I will always take care of you. I will always love you.”

Her arms tightened around his neck as she stared up at him.

“I’ve never told anyone I love them before,” she admitted.

“You don’t have to⁠—”

With a shake of her head, she cut him off. “You’re the only person who’s ever truly seen me, who’s ever cared about me. I think I fell for you the second you walked into the coffee shop.”

Heat spread through his chest, and he pulled her in for a long kiss. The water eventually turned cold, and he flicked it off before drying both of them. They dressed in companionable silence, then headed to the kitchen.

Maya slumped into a chair at the kitchen table, and he studied her. He was worried about her, even though he knew she’d bounce back. All he could do was be there for her, help her through it.

“I hate it here,” she whispered.

All night long, fury and concern had plagued him. Aiden thought about the episode at the restaurant, thought about how he wanted to whisk her away to someplace where she’d never have to deal with it again.

An idea that had lain dormant for the past couple of days flickered to life.

“Do you really feel that way?”

Now that she was thinking with a clear mind, he wanted to know exactly where she stood.

She nodded, looking incredibly forlorn.

“I never want to see another reporter as long as I live.”

The reporter was an idiot, but so were the supposed friends who’d treated her poorly after the attack.

“Maya.” He settled into the chair next to her and turned her slightly so he could see her better. “If you could do anything in the world, what would it be?”

She lifted one shoulder, avoiding his gaze.

“I don’t know.” She sighed. “I’m just tired of being reminded about it constantly.”

He could understand that.

“Have you ever been to Florida?”

Her blue eyes lifted to his, and she tipped her head to one side.

“Florida?”

He nodded. He knew it was crazy, but the more he thought about it, the more he believed it would be good for both of them. He hated his job, and Knox Castillo’s offer was sounding better by the minute. He didn’t know if the position was still available, but it was worth a shot.

“There’s a job offer in Florida. I never said anything about it before, but if you’re open to going and at least checking it out…”

He trailed off, and she stared at him for nearly a full minute before nodding.

“I think it’s worth a try.”

He kissed her lightly, then grabbed his phone and pulled up the email from a couple of weeks ago. He asked Knox if the position was still available and told him that he and Maya would be interested in visiting.

Less than five minutes later, his phone dinged with an alert, and his heart raced with anticipation as he pulled up Castillo’s response.

A slow smile spread across Aiden’s face as he turned to Maya.